Nervous pupils gathered at Sheppey’s Oasis Academy to find out their GCSE results this morning.

A total of 267 children sat the exams which may determine what they go on to do next.

Of these, 125 (47%) achieved at least five A* to C grades – exactly the same figure as last year. And 85% of them received at least one grade at A* to C.

This year the grading of GCSEs changed and, by 2019, all of the exams will be marked with a new scale from 9 to 1, with 9 being the highest grade (equivalent to an A**).

English language, English literature and maths are the first subjects to use the new system, while all other subjects retain the old A* to G scale.

At the academy, 82 students achieved 9-4 in English and maths this year.

English remains a strength, with 56% of students achieving the new standard pass of grade 4 or higher, and maths results saw a slight improvement. However the subject remains “the priority area for next year”.

When it came to PE, 83% of pupils achieved a C and above compared with 62% in 2016.

Principal John Cavadino said the academy was “on a journey of steady and continued improvement”.

“I am pleased we have sustained our previously good achievement in English and have stabilised our results in maths.”

He added: “Across the academy there has been some very good upturns in achievement in certain subjects, for example in PE and computer science.

“There is, of course, no complacency. Over the last year we have introduced a lot of changes which has really improved the teaching and learning environment.

“I would like to thank our teachers and staff for their dedication to our students over the last year. As a team, we are 100% committed to making Oasis Academy the exceptional school that our local community so richly deserves.”